Loose-leaf binder.



No. 789,035. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

F. B. JORDAN. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8- 1904.

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. I 6 5 fiedfi 1757 05627 Nrrnn STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

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FRED B. JORDAN. OF VVINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO A. E. MARTELL COMPANY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent NO. 789,035, dated May 2, 1905,

Application filed July 8, 1904:. Serial No. 215,780.

1'0 0/? 7117mm, it may concern Be it known that I, FRED B. JORDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVin throp, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders; and the object is to simplify and improve the existing art by providing a device of the kind named and for the purposes hereinafter specified which is of simple construction, efficient in attaining the purposes, convenient in use, and durable.

It is also the object to cheapen and lessen the number of parts which is used when the original file is completed and the record is to be filed away for future reference, all as will be fully disclosed hereinafter, and the asserted novelty then particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

The improvements have been fully and clear y illustrated in the annexed drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification.

Reference being had to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete binder shown as having a number of leaves bound together. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the base-plate and the clamping-plate and longitudinal section through the cover-plates and one of the binding-posts. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the locking-plate, showing the bowed spring as extended or in looking position. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section through the lockingplate, showing the bowed spring as bent to withdraw the ends from locking contact with the binding-posts. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the clamping-plate, showing the form of the lever effecting the position of the bowed spring. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the smooth-headed'screw which is used while the file is being filled up or completed and also the flaring headed screw which is inserted in the sockets of the binding-posts after the file has been completely filled with leaves. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the clamping-plate, showing the central elongated opening therein, into which the bow of the spring seats when disengaged from the posts. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal central section through a portion of the baseplate, showing the eyelet-rivet secured therein and the manner of securing the bases of the binding-posts in the plate.

A designates the base-plate made of a strip or plate of hard wood of such dimensions as may fit it for the different sizes of the devices as may be made. This base-plate has made in it a horizontal longitudinal kerf 1, wherein the rear portion of a transversely-folded textile hinge-strip 2 is arranged, and between the folded parts of this strip is positioned a metal plate or strip 3, leaving the outer portion of the textile strip extending, as shown, so as to be adapted to lap over upon the lower cover-plate and constitute the hinge medium thereto, substantially as seen in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2.

3 designates the under or bottom coverplate which of course is of such superficial area as may be required for the size of the cover-plate.

Through the parts described, at stated distances apart, are made vertical holes in which are fixed eyelet-rivets 4, and in the sleeves or openings of the eyelets are secured the bases of binding-posts 5, which are rigidly secured in position by spreading the lower ends to fit tight in the eyelets by any proper means, substantiall y as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. These binding-posts are extended vertically to the height desired parallel with each other and are provided in their upper ends with screw-threaded sockets 6, wherein engage the threaded shanks of long-headed screws 7, the diameter of the heads being identical with that of the posts, so that when a leaf is arranged on the posts it will not be interfered with in its disposition on the posts.

Slidably disposed on the vertical posts 5 is a clamping-plate 8, provided with an elongated opening 9, having inclined ends into which the bow of the locking-spring extends when it is bent by the force of the depressing lever. To the clamping-plate is hinged the upper cover-plate 10, which is a duplicate in size to the under cover-plate 3.

1 1 designates the locking-plate having perforations which slidably fit on the posts 5 and lies flat on the clamping-plate to which it is secured. This locking-plate is made of metal and is provided with openings 12 adjacent to the end portion and formed with downwardly curved or inclined tongues 13, the ends of which are directed inward and are integral with the plate, being out therefrom in making the openings 12. In the middle of the locking-plate is made an opening 14, longitudinally across which is secured a bar 15, formed with a depending guidepiece 16, adapted to engage in an aperture in the bow-spring, as will be hereinafter stated. Mounted pivotally at the middle of the locking-plate, as by laterally-extending trunnions 17, is a lever 18, having a forked lower end which straddles the bar 15 and bears on the bow-spring to bend the same, and thus move the ends from contact with the binding-posts. This lever operates from either direction.

19 designates a bowed or curved spring secured in the locking-plate substantially as seen in the drawingsthat is to say, having its end portions projected up through the openings 12 and resting on the upper surface of the tongues 13, with the ends of the spring normally lodged against the inner faces of the binding-posts, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. In the middle of the bow-spring is made an aperture 20, which slidably engages on the guide-piece 16 to guide the bow in its limited movements and hold it against endwise movement at that point.

. The cover-plates may be overlaid with any suitable material made of any design desired.

In the utilization of the device when it is desired to put on file a leaf the lever is turned into vertical position, so as to bend the spring as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and thus remove the ends from engagement with the posts, and then the united locking-plate and the clamping-plate lifted off the posts. The clamping-plate, with the locking-plate, is then returned to position on the posts and pressed down on the sheet, which is placed in position upside down. The lever is then turned down and the clamping-plate locked in place. When the file is full or completed, the long-head screws are removed and the locking-plate taken off. Then the flaringhead screws are inserted in the sockets of the posts and screwed down onto the clampingplate, and the leaves are bound tight and firm between the plates. The file is then turned over, and the contents are ready for examination at any time. The loose hinge of what has been termed the base-plate will be the upper cover-plate and may be turned up when making the examination. Another and preferred mode of preparing the completed file for filing away is as follows:

After the binder has become filled remove the locking-cover; also round screw-tips on the ends of the posts. Then put on a plain cover and bind down firmly with the flaringhead screws. Screw the long-headed screws just removed from the filled binder into the screw-sockets of another base-piece, put on the locking-cover and locking-plate, and the binder is complete for another file. In this mode only as many locking-covers, with the equipments, are needed as are required for current use. By this mode each binder becomes a locking-binder at the cost and work of a transfer only. Then there is a saving of time and trouble in transferring the leaves from one binder to another, I which is the mode usually employed in other styles of binders. The binders when filled can be stacked in any convenient place.

What is claimed is 1. In a loose-leaf binder, a base-plate, vertical parallel bindingposts, a clamping-plate slidably arranged on the binding-posts and formed with an elongated central opening, a locking-plate slidable vertically on the posts and formed with openings between and adjacent to the posts, a bowed spring having its end portions projected through the openings with its ends normally bearing against the posts to lock the locking-plate, and a lever in the locking-plate to increase the bend of the bow to withdraw the ends from con tact with the posts.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, a base-plate, vertical parallel binding-posts, a clamping-plate slidably arranged on the bindin posts and formed with an elongated centra opening, a locking-plate slidable vertically on the posts and formed with openings between and adjacent to the posts and tongues downwardly inclined and extending inwardly in the openings, a bowed spring having its end portions projected through the openings and resting on the tongues with the ends of the bowbearing against the posts to lock the lockingplate in position, and a reversible lever pivotally mounted on the locking-plate at the middle thereof to engage the bow and withdraw the ends thereof from contact with the posts.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising a baseplate formed with a longitudinal kerf entering from the inner edge, a textile hinge-strip doubled transversely upon itself and arranged in the kerf, a metal strip placed between the folds of the hinge-strip within the kerf to hold it in position, eyelets riveted through the parts, vertical parallel posts having their bases rigidly fixed in the eyelets, a clamping-plate slidable vertically on the posts and formed with an elongated central opening, a lockingplate slidable vertically on the posts and formed with openings be-' tween and adjacent to the posts and downwardly-inclined tongues extending inward in the openings, a guide-piece secured at the middle of the locking-plate and extending vertically downward, a bowed spring having its end portions projected through the openings and resting on the tongues with the ends of the bow normally bearing against the posts, and formed with an aperture to slidably engage over the guide-piece, a reversible lever fulcrumed to the locking-plate and having a forkedlower end to straddle the guidepiece and bend the bow, a cover-plate se cured between the extending portions of the hinge-strip, and a cover-plate hinged to the clamping-plate.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, a base-plate formed with a horizontal kerf extending the length of the plate, a textile hinge strip folded transversely upon itself and positioned in the kerf, a metal strip placed between the folds of the hinge-strip within the kerf, and a cover-plate secured between the extending portions of the hinge-strip.

5. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with the binding-posts and the clampingplate slidably mounted on the posts and formed with a central elongated opening, of a lockin -plate slidable vertically on the posts an formed with openings between and adjacent to the posts and downwardlyinclined tongues extending inwardly into the openings, a downwardly extendin guidepiece secured at the middle of the lockingplate, a bowed spring having its end portions projected through the openings and resting on the tongues with the ends normally bearing against the posts, and formed with an aperture to slidably engage over'the guidepiec'e, and a lever fulcrumed to the lockingplate to bend the bow to release the ends thereof from contact with the posts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' FRED B. JORDAN. Witnesses:

THEO. H. MARTELL, E. P. SMALL. 

